• THERESA MAE DULMAN
After more than 30 years of service, the Bacolod City government finally elevated the status of three long-time job order (JO) workers to regular employment.
The newly regularized employees are part of the City Engineer’s Office – Highway Maintenance Division, which is primarily responsible for clearing and maintaining the city’s creeks and waterways.
The appointment was officially signed by Mayor Greg Gasataya last week.
The three employees recognized for their dedicated service are 63 year-old Ritchie Opao, who has been serving for 43 years; 54-year-old Vicente Candar, 35 years in service; and 55 year-old Cesar Zuniega, 32 years in service.
Gasataya said he recognized their service, including wading into the creeks near the Ceres North Terminal to clean up long-accumulated garbage, an effort they have sustained over many years.
“Their work is not that easy. We should give credit to them also as they deserve every benefit that we can give for their decade of service as JO of the city,” he said.
Upon regularization, the employees are now officially eligible for every benefit and privilege extended by the city government to its permanent staff.*
